Day of service day #2

So, on day two of the Mitchell's Give Back Weekend, we volunteered for a kids bike ride in Westwood....I checked in riders and Jay was part of the leaders of the pack. This was a super fun day seeing all of the cute kids that had raised money for charity (sure most of them raised money from their parents checkbooks, but still cute watching them proudly turn in their checks). I have to admit that I left with an amazing feeling after the weekend.. energized and ready to take up more regular volunteering.....haven't actually gotten around to any more volunteer work yet....ya know.. summer and vacations got in the way..but this fall..promise...service and volunteering.. here i come!

Jay and his work buddy getting ready for the big ride...



What a cute leader..

All of the kids getting ready to take off

Mitchell's Days of Service

Jay and I spent an entire weekend at the end of May participating two local community events... We referred to it as the Mitchell's Give Back Weekend...very fulfilling. On Sat we volunteered for the "serve-a-thon" fixing up local Boston schools. We were assigned the huge job of painting a mural on the cafeteria wall. Thankfully Jay is very artsy...cause I almost walked out when they gave us a transparency of a black and white copy of the drawing and a few buckets of paint and told us to just go at it. I need directions, paint by number, exact color match..this was nuts. But my calm and focused husband got right to it and began working on the mural. It ended up being a ton of fun, and I think turned out pretty good. We had a few others painting with us, and after a very long day, we finally finished. I imagine the students were very excited to come back to a cafeteria that was covered in new and exciting murals.

Just beginning...

Cute little kids helping painting as well...this little girl was so cute and I couldn't resist taking a pic of her wearing the giant shirt...too funny..

Getting closer...almost done..

Finally Finished and you can actually tell what it is..yea us!

other cute kids helping...

Big City Patio

So we finally did it...broke down and got a little patio set. It is perfect for our little patio, and this is a pic of our first meal on our new furniture. (It should be noted that the chairs also work surprisingly well as a clothes drying apparatus)

(Doesn't Jay look so excited!)

Since April.....Segway Tour with the Gins

The Gins came to town to visit us, and what a better way to show off our town but by tour Paul Blart segway style. It was so fun, super dorky, but so much fun...


Kelly gettin her learn on...

Jay getting segway lessons from a real life Blart...

"I'm sexy on my segway"

Notice I'm the only one not brave enough to put my hands up...yikes!

Michael doesn't look embarrassed at all

Ramps=scary

Since April....Fun Day in the Park with the Daileys

How could you not love this little girl..baby Lila, Nell and I had and incredible afternoon in the park in Maine...I just love taking shots of this girl....too cute

Rock Chalk Jayhawk...

Good news from the Jordan Brand Classic, Josh Selby the number 4 ranked player in the country committed to Kansas. This is big after Xavier and Cole announced they're headed to the NBA. Here is a video of the next great Jayhawk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36td_ejDRJ8

As I'm typing this a former Jayhawk just schooled the C's....Mario Chalmers...

National Champs!

Pure domination! What a run...beanpot title (sucks to BU), hockey east title (I sorry Maine), National Championship (#1 Miami 7-1, #3 Wisconsin 5-0)... Size

Brooks Easter Bunny

This was my mom's Easter creation this year and I just loved it! It makes me laugh so hard for some reason and I thought that everyone needs a good laugh too. She made it out of the pop out bread. She rocks and I continue to strive to be just like her.

Spring has Sprung!

Oh this is just such a wonderful site...Bring on the spring time!!!

Gotta figure out how to steal this plate....

Our Friends Ben and Jerry

So the Ben and Jerry's factory just happened to be on the way home from Stowe, so of course we had to stop. It was very cool to see how ice cream is made, and even more fun to eat it. Considering that I gave up all sweets for Lent, this couldn't have been better timing. Happy Easter to me.

Just missing my partner Jerry...

1st Mitchell Ski Trip-Stowe 2010

So we survived our first ski trip together. It was absolutely perfect and while I have a lot of work to do on my skiing, it was so nice to be back on the snow (or lack of snow). The weather was so warm and made for fantastic skiing weather, but it did cause there to be large patches of grass on the slopes and the snow to be VERY slushy. I blame the poor snow conditions for my terrible skiing...(ok maybe that was not the only reason) I let Jay ski by himself the first day. He did all the hard runs and was nice and worn out for the second day with me. (Well, that was the plan at least.) He stayed with me all day and was so patient with my poor skills. He was an amazing coach and did not give up on me even when I loudly expressed, "this is not fun for me". (oops...just anxiety and frustration coming out. )As the day when on, I got more comfortable and ready to conquer this skiing thing. Watching a crazy girl on the mountain, crying from anxiety and so nervous, I knew I couldn't be that bad. Still have many years of practice, but feel I can get there. Here are a few shots from the trip.

First run of Day 2 skiing for Jay, Day 1 of skiing together-notice the amount of clothes and the patient face

I am super happy-but have not yet had a run...

loing layers..temperature creeping up to the 80s

The run I did almost all day...the only one that didn't cause a panic attack.

Coach Jay and proud student...

Not your everyday sight...just too cute not to capture

Ski day complete, I survived and now time to enjoy some beers, sunshine and live music. What a wonderful weekend.

Good Bye Old Friend

So, we had to turn in the Acura. It was a sorta sad day. It was the car I met Jay in, the car we took many road trips in and the car I officially learned to drive standard in. You will be missed old blue friend.

Oh Baby

Pregnancy, Babies and Baby Showers, Oh MY! It is glorious, don't get me wrong...I am so happy for all 4,000 of my friends that are just recently blessed, or about to be blessed with new little squirmy gifts, but I am fairly certain that there is something in the water...For the next year I will make sure to drink only bottled water.

but..fear not...soon enough, I will be ready for my dose of non bottled water.

I realized the other day over lunch that we have officially reached that age where our entire conversations will revolve around nipples, strollers, diapers, birthing strategies, and which baby food is the healthiest/gluten free/organic or what have you. Am I a bad person for wanting an "un-natural birth"?? You are finding out the sex?? You don't want the one natural surprise?? Conversations were attempted to be changed (by yours truly) to, I don't know, something current like the health care bill (which didn't go over well..not a good plan) or trashy tv, but eventually we ended up back to swollen ankles and bloody noses.

Guess I will eventually be there too..

(I do, however, enjoy throwing baby showers...so keep em coming..)

New Friend

so, yea...that was my best friend for a night and his super fast car, that for some reason I felt was really cool after a few bevs. We, needless to say, are no longer best friends, but only because he likes to finish every facebook post with LOL...even when laughing out loud isn't really appropriate... either than that, I could see a long term BFFE....

Wonder what this is about?

Please explain Mrs. Mitchell....

Skinner is Gone!

Yes! Yes! Yes! I have waited 13 years for this day. I pray that Gene makes a good hire and we have a basketball team worth cheering for.

Go Eagles!

little Texas in Boston

So Jay and I got to go to a Pat Green/Wade Bowen concert at the House of Blues Boston last weekend. Well, maybe I got to go, and Jay was the supportive husband that went along to make his wife happy. IT WAS AWESOME, I, however, was ridiculous.. ridiculously happy that is... jumping around, playing imaginary fiddles and singing songs I haven't heard in years. Jay smiled and let me play and didn't complain once..maybe a few eye rolls, but if he did, I never noticed. We had a great time and I was so excited to see a room full of Texas music lovers. We met some fun, interesting people and had an overall amazing night. Here is a pic from the night..not a great picture, but you get the idea.